When wrench sets skip sizes, how do they decide which to skip?

[JonnFX]

I think the manufacturer is just trying to make us think we are getting a deal, but they sure loose sales from me. Damn idiots!

I use all of them from 7mm - 19mm and then some. My Dodge Magnum uses 16 and 18 on some of the suspension bolts (Mercedes).

 

[NHBandit]

GM use a 18mm nut on the ball joint on the GM cavalier, cobalt etc. You either need a extra long wrench or a ring crowfoot to fit it because the outboard CV joint prevents you getting a socket onto it.

Take the nut off the end of the axle & pry the axle inward. You'll gain alot of room to get on the balljoint nut.

 

[cheechi]

I needed to add a 19mm for my Civic (lower ball joint nut). IIRC the hub nut is a 32mm but I found a close-enough inch socket to do the job.

4x100 just like every other 4 bolt from Asia in the 85-99 era. My Sentra is exactly like your Civic. I think my Fronty uses 32mm for the hub also but it's 6x5.5" so that means nothing.

 

[uart]

I swear that it is planned that way ...
A "set" of 6 with 3 holes is $20, each hole is $15 ...

Yeah I know what you mean. At most places around here the cost of individual ratchet wrenches is ridiculous compared with the price of a set.

I remember the first time I bought a "beginners set" like that (on sale) and then figured out it was going to cost me 3 to 4 times that initial amount to fill in all the stupid gaps. Refusing to buy individual wrenches, I've now got about about 3 different sets (with somewhat complementary sizes), but I'm still missing 18mm.

Personally I don't need ratcheting wrenches in very large sizes. I'm fine with sockets and regular combination wrenches above 19mm.

 

[Rawlins87]

I use 22mm and 24mm on motorcycle axles.
Haven't used 11mm or 16mm that I can recall.

 

[Chuck122]

I do not own incomplete wrench set but I ca imagine Average Jo that has his car apart and realizes that he needs a size he doesn't have. Then he can't go buy the wrench cuz his car is in pieces

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I do not own incomplete wrench set but I ca imagine Average Jo that has his car apart and realizes that he needs a size he doesn't have. Then he can't go buy the wrench cuz his car is in pieces

Usually, I will do big jobs when the wife is home, so I can send her out for parts (rarely tools) runs....We do have my Mustang which is my second vehicle, in case the wifey isn't around...

 

[JBradley500]

My motorcycle has done it's fair share of parts running haha.

 

[wafrederick]

1 3/16" is left out too.Use this size on older transfer case fill and drain plugs.This wrench can be hard to find,Craftsman does not show a listing for this wrench size.I hate it when 15mm and 18mm are left out.Ford does use 11mm too including GM.GM uses 11mm for the steering coupler bolt for the front wheel drive cars.Ford uses 11mm for the nuts holding the rear taillights in place.17mm is used for flexplate and flywheel bolts on GM,Chrysler and Ford engines.The Chrysler 3.7 and 4.7 engines have one bolt for one of the timing cover bolts that is a 17mm.

 

[nyrapscalion]

The 11mm is a wrench/socket that I never use. I can say yes to the 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm & 19mm. I work on a Camry, Protege & Altima. In the past it was a Saturn, Honda Accord, Audi (the bolt is where?), Ford Van, 323, ******...that's about it.
Gosh, it's crazy. Makes me think about the huge sets I have and the sockets that never get used.

 

[rodm1]

I do not own incomplete wrench set but I ca imagine Average Jo that has his car apart and realizes that he needs a size he doesn't have. Then he can't go buy the wrench cuz his car is in pieces

That is the very reason I have sow many unused sizes and try to buy complete sets. You never now when you will need to remove a very small torex screw to replace the **** trans filter. 7mm allen wrenches are an oddity in sets but for brakes you probable will need one.

 

[cheechi]

Funniest thing. Was working with my Bosch router yesterday, used 16mm & 24mm. Can't remember the last time I used either one of those.

 

[LeGarage]

Just get all sizes. Sockets are cheap.

 

[carterbeauford]

What's the 22 for ?

Ram HD balljoints

 

[monkeyspanners]

Use 11, 12 and 9/16 a lot on refrigeration pressure switches. Can't remember needing a 9mm for anything yet.

The modern stuff is boring to work on as i only get to play with the same 10, 13 and sometimes 17mm tools.

The older stuff could be sae, whitworth or BA just to keep you guessing! Don't even keep my 1/2 socket set on the truck anymore as none of the fasteners justify carrying it as my 3/8 set copes.

 

[bobemmerich]

Ram HD balljoints

What's the 22 for ?

GM S-Series lower control arm bolts

 

[AV tinker er]

Seen several posts about axel sockets. 30, 32, & 36 cover most cars now.

 

[metaleltr]

GM S-Series lower control arm bolts

What year? I have a 2001 blazer 4x4, the lower control arm bolts had 21mm heads.

 

[toolaholic]

What's the 22 for ?

my 99 Dakota r/t pivot shaft to frame nuts in the upper control arms are 22mm. Needed a deep offset wrench on passenger side. Exhaust manifold right above nut restricting access.

 

[jmm]

Seen several posts about axel sockets. 30, 32, & 36 cover most cars now.

I think my K1500 might be a 35? Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[Flivver250]

Anyone who works on rusty cars will tell you that you need those in between sizes. Fasteners don't always retain their same size after years of salt. While I have many tools that rarely come into play, I'm glad I have them all.

 

[Outlander]

Anyone who works on rusty cars will tell you that you need those in between sizes. Fasteners don't always retain their same size after years of salt. While I have many tools that rarely come into play, I'm glad I have them all.

Thank you sir. Everything I own is rusty. I need every size. Good heaven how did I not see this before!

 

[GreenNV]

I am at a loss as to what “logic” is used when selling wrench sets. The six piece Kobalt set I purchased at Lowes was missing the 13mm size. I find that to be one of my most used wrenches. I went back to purchase the single 13mm wrench and they wanted $12. I scoffed at the price and then went to HF that had a 9 piece combination set on sale for $6.99. It went from 7mm to 19mm but excluded the 9mm, 15mm, 16mm, and 18mm.

However, the SK combination 15 piece metric set is from 8mm through 22mm and includes every size in between. Barring a tool war discussion, I can’t justify the $132 price. But SK does solve the problem.

 

[Rico.]

Anyone who works on rusty cars will tell you that you need those in between sizes. Fasteners don't always retain their same size after years of salt. While I have many tools that rarely come into play, I'm glad I have them all.

Exactly the same reason to have a set of SAE sockets handy even if you only work on
metric equipment. a 3/8" socket will fit very snuggly on a rusted 10mm bolt.

So the consensus is... you need to have every size with no skips in metric, SAE and
whitworth with wrenches, ratchet wrenches, long wrenches, offset wrenches, flare nut
wrenches, stubby wrenches, stubby ratchet wrenches, short wrenches, extra long wrenches,
extra long flex head ratchet wrenches, zero offset long wrenches and zero offset ratchet
wrenches.....

6 point shallow sockets, 6 point deep sockets, 6 point semi deep sockets, 12 point shallow
sockets, 12 point deep sockets, 12 point semi deep sockets, e-torx sockets, allen sockets,
torx sockets, security torx sockets, torx plus sockets, tripple square sockets, crows foot
sockets, low profile sockets, pass through sockets and extra deep sockets in 1/4", 3/8",
1/2" and 3/4" drive sizes.

and here endeth the GJ offical motto

Hang on a minute... dd I mention impact sockets....

 

[bsaint]

I work on Italian machine tools and use mostly all the sizes between 6mm and 19mm except 14,15, and 18.

 

[GoodEnough]

I am at a loss as to what “logic” is used when selling wrench sets. The six piece Kobalt set I purchased at Lowes was missing the 13mm size. I find that to be one of my most used wrenches. I went back to purchase the single 13mm wrench and they wanted $12..

I think you just answered your own question.

 

[kc-steve]

It might make sense to some people to buy a "starter set" or a set specific to what you work on, but those of us who work professionally, or on everything around the house, a complete full set is the best economical option in the long run. Not to mention it will be applicable for a life-time.

Steve

 

[shockwave]

I tend to use a majority of my sockets.

I use the 9 and 11 all the time
The 11mm gets used mostly on driveshafts on gm and small brackets in ford.

But really I use 7-22 and 24,27,30,32,34,36 all the time my 23 and 25 and 26 never get used

22 is a lot more common than 21 for tie rods and oxygen sensors and crank bolts

 

[AV tinker er]

I think my K1500 might be a 35? Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

I dont doubt there are other sizes I didn't mention, the most common are 30, 32, and 36, at least from my experience.

 

[bobemmerich]

What year? I have a 2001 blazer 4x4, the lower control arm bolts had 21mm heads.

Mine's a 96.

 

[cuengineer]

At some point, I have needed all the sizes from 7 mm through 20 (except never used a 16 mm), then 22. Larger metric are pretty interchangeable with standard sizes. It seems to be smaller sizes where you have to be careful to make sure the standard sizes are tight and you don't specifically need a metric size.

 

[jp_over]

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece-pro-gear-metric-stubby-combo-wrench-set-93922-2764.html

8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm and 18mm


Who decides that?
What if you have a 16mm?
That would really piss me off.

Just retired, most of my tools are in storage for now. Today, I spent some time making a cheater bar and discovered that my temporary wrench set is missing an 18mm. Yep, freaking BS; lesson learned about cheap tools.

 

[mrspeed]

There have been a few of these threads. They always start with people saying, "I've only ever needed these sizes and don't know why you would ever need these other sizes." But then when you combine everyone's commonly used sizes across people working on European cars, US trucks, Asian motorcycles, cars older than 1994 or whatever year, industrial equipment, Rube Goldberg machines, HVAC systems, aerospace and marine equipment, bird prosthetics, woodwork, building and construction, robotic mailboxes, playground equipment, laboratory equipment, fish wheelchairs, and movie set construction, you end up with basically all sizes.

Exactly the same reason to have a set of SAE sockets handy even if you only work on

metric equipment. a 3/8" socket will fit very snuggly on a rusted 10mm bolt.



So the consensus is... you need to have every size with no skips in metric, SAE and

whitworth with wrenches, ratchet wrenches, long wrenches, offset wrenches, flare nut

wrenches, stubby wrenches, stubby ratchet wrenches, short wrenches, extra long wrenches,

extra long flex head ratchet wrenches, zero offset long wrenches and zero offset ratchet

wrenches.....



6 point shallow sockets, 6 point deep sockets, 6 point semi deep sockets, 12 point shallow

sockets, 12 point deep sockets, 12 point semi deep sockets, e-torx sockets, allen sockets,

torx sockets, security torx sockets, torx plus sockets, tripple square sockets, crows foot

sockets, low profile sockets, pass through sockets and extra deep sockets in 1/4", 3/8",

1/2" and 3/4" drive sizes.



and here endeth the GJ offical motto



Hang on a minute... dd I mention impact sockets....

Can someone turn this into a shopping list for everyone who's new to GJ and wants to know what they need?

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Wrench97]

Subaru Tie Rods is the only one I know of.

O2 sensors.

 

[rr1963]

squirrels.

Excellent!

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

When I first bought a set of combinations, Thorsen skipped 15mm and 18mm. When I upgraded to Craftsman at Sears semi-annual individual tool sale,, not knowing, I bought all sizes. For the longest period of time, I thought I had made a mistake. Now they are common.

I bought a Mastercraft Gearwrench ratchet wrench set without 17mm! I was P-off about that when I looked at the price of the 17mm.

 

[vavet]

There have been a few of these threads. They always start with people saying, "I've only ever needed these sizes and don't know why you would ever need these other sizes." But then when you combine everyone's commonly used sizes across people working on European cars, US trucks, Asian motorcycles, cars older than 1994 or whatever year, industrial equipment, Rube Goldberg machines, HVAC systems, aerospace and marine equipment, bird prosthetics, woodwork, building and construction, robotic mailboxes, playground equipment, laboratory equipment, fish wheelchairs, and movie set construction, you end up with basically all sizes.Can someone turn this into a shopping list for everyone who's new to GJ and wants to know what they need?

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Lol at bird prosthetics.
Thank you for that.

 

[nicks78camaro]

I won't buy a set that skips sizes. Not much of a "set", after all

 

[Szilagyi]

I couldn't decide on a set that skipped sizes, so I bough the Stahlwille 26 piece metric wrench set that goes from 6-32 only skipping 31, and I also bought a 5.5 separately to round it all the way out.

 

[brollona]

Nobody touched original question of the thread starter: how they decide what sizes to skip?

Answer lies in international thread standards which decide sizes of nuts that will be used in industry.